Housh seems to have regrets about not going to Vikings (1 Viewer)

[Sammy Traveller]

LINK

Houshmandzadeh chose Seahawks over Vikes

By JON KRAWCZYNSKI AP Sports Writer

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn.(AP)—When T.J. Houshmandzadeh(notes) made a free agent visit to Minnesota at the beginning of March, he was impressed by everything he saw. Well, almost everything.

Owner Zygi Wilf cut short a vacation and presented a competitive offer. Receivers coach George Stewart made the veteran feel like the missing piece to the puzzle and coach Brad Childress made it clear how much they valued Houshmandzadeh’s services.

“It was just a class organization,” Houshmandzadeh said.

All except for the quarterback. The Vikings were preparing to go into training camp with Sage Rosenfels(notes) and Tarvaris Jackson(notes) in a competition for the job. That was enough for Houshmandzadeh to sign a five-year, $40 million contract with Seattle instead.

“You knew Minnesota had a good team. It came down to, it felt like the quarterback situation was better here,” Houshmandzadeh said. “I did what any receiver would do.”

Oops.

Little did Houshmandzadeh know Brett Favre(notes) would parachute in to Minnesota two weeks into training camp and deliver an MVP-caliber performance in the first half of the season, putting the Vikings (8-1) in contention for the top seed in the NFC.

It’s been a much more difficult year for the Seahawks (3-6), who have been beset by injuries and have lost six of their last eight games heading into Sunday’s meeting with the Vikings at the Metrodome.

“Obviously, it doesn’t look like I made the right decision,” Houshmandzadeh said. “But it’s too early. It’s been (nine) games.”

Houshmandzadeh had his best game as a Seahawk last week against Arizona, catching nine passes for 165 yards in a 31-20 loss. But he also has five games this season where he failed to top 50 yards receiving, production that has certainly been affected by Matt Hasselbeck(notes) missing two games with a rib injury.

So while Favre and the Vikings have a commanding three-game lead in the NFC North and are steamrolling toward the playoffs, the Seahawks are languishing in the NFC West. They need a major turnaround to avoid missing the postseason for a second straight year.

What if Favre had already been in purple when Houshmandzadeh was agonizing over the decision?

“Had he been there, who knows what could have happened?” he said. “What if … What if …”

The Vikings saw the 31-year-old former Cincinnati Bengal as the big, precise route runner they needed to complement speedster Bernard Berrian(notes) on the outside.

But when Houshmandzadeh turned down the Vikings to head out west to Seattle, he may have helped out Minnesota in the long run.

Had Houshmandzadeh signed a big contract to play here, the Vikings may not have selected Florida receiver Percy Harvin(notes) with their first-round pick in April. Harvin has been a revelation in his first nine games as a pro, leading the league in yards per kick return and emerging as one of Favre’s favorite big-play targets.

“Too bad he didn’t come here. I don’t know,” Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe(notes) said with a wry grin. “All I know is we’ve got Percy, Bernard (Berrian) and Sidney (Rice) and those are the guys that we love and we need here. They’re making huge plays here.

“He made a decision. He decided what’s best for his career,” Shiancoe said. “We feel good over here. Hopefully he feels good over there.”

There have been times this season when Houshmandzadeh has waxed nostalgic about Carson Palmer(notes) and the Bengals, who are enjoying a breakthrough season in first place in the AFC North, and has complained about not getting enough passes thrown his way.

He said he’s feeling more like himself lately and wasn’t ready to say he made the wrong choice yet.

“As of now, it doesn’t look like I made the best decision,” Houshmandzadeh said. “But you can’t say it’s a bad decision. It’s been one year. I feel like I have many more years I’ll be playing. I feel good.”

Housh is not doing Seattle any favors with his choice of words? Also getting his comeuppance from Cincy - as that team is also doing well.

 

[the rover]

The longer he plays in Seattle, the more I understand that he's a cancer. Bengals sure don't miss him.

 

[fred_1_15301]

LINK

Houshmandzadeh chose Seahawks over Vikes

By JON KRAWCZYNSKI AP Sports Writer

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn.(AP)—When T.J. Houshmandzadeh(notes) made a free agent visit to Minnesota at the beginning of March, he was impressed by everything he saw. Well, almost everything.

Owner Zygi Wilf cut short a vacation and presented a competitive offer. Receivers coach George Stewart made the veteran feel like the missing piece to the puzzle and coach Brad Childress made it clear how much they valued Houshmandzadeh’s services.

“It was just a class organization,” Houshmandzadeh said.

All except for the quarterback. The Vikings were preparing to go into training camp with Sage Rosenfels(notes) and Tarvaris Jackson(notes) in a competition for the job. That was enough for Houshmandzadeh to sign a five-year, $40 million contract with Seattle instead.

“You knew Minnesota had a good team. It came down to, it felt like the quarterback situation was better here,” Houshmandzadeh said. “I did what any receiver would do.”

Oops.

Little did Houshmandzadeh know Brett Favre(notes) would parachute in to Minnesota two weeks into training camp and deliver an MVP-caliber performance in the first half of the season, putting the Vikings (8-1) in contention for the top seed in the NFC.

It’s been a much more difficult year for the Seahawks (3-6), who have been beset by injuries and have lost six of their last eight games heading into Sunday’s meeting with the Vikings at the Metrodome.

“Obviously, it doesn’t look like I made the right decision,” Houshmandzadeh said. “But it’s too early. It’s been (nine) games.”

Houshmandzadeh had his best game as a Seahawk last week against Arizona, catching nine passes for 165 yards in a 31-20 loss. But he also has five games this season where he failed to top 50 yards receiving, production that has certainly been affected by Matt Hasselbeck(notes) missing two games with a rib injury.

So while Favre and the Vikings have a commanding three-game lead in the NFC North and are steamrolling toward the playoffs, the Seahawks are languishing in the NFC West. They need a major turnaround to avoid missing the postseason for a second straight year.

What if Favre had already been in purple when Houshmandzadeh was agonizing over the decision?

“Had he been there, who knows what could have happened?” he said. “What if … What if …”

The Vikings saw the 31-year-old former Cincinnati Bengal as the big, precise route runner they needed to complement speedster Bernard Berrian(notes) on the outside.

But when Houshmandzadeh turned down the Vikings to head out west to Seattle, he may have helped out Minnesota in the long run.

Had Houshmandzadeh signed a big contract to play here, the Vikings may not have selected Florida receiver Percy Harvin(notes) with their first-round pick in April. Harvin has been a revelation in his first nine games as a pro, leading the league in yards per kick return and emerging as one of Favre’s favorite big-play targets.

“Too bad he didn’t come here. I don’t know,” Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe(notes) said with a wry grin. “All I know is we’ve got Percy, Bernard (Berrian) and Sidney (Rice) and those are the guys that we love and we need here. They’re making huge plays here.

“He made a decision. He decided what’s best for his career,” Shiancoe said. “We feel good over here. Hopefully he feels good over there.”

There have been times this season when Houshmandzadeh has waxed nostalgic about Carson Palmer(notes) and the Bengals, who are enjoying a breakthrough season in first place in the AFC North, and has complained about not getting enough passes thrown his way.

He said he’s feeling more like himself lately and wasn’t ready to say he made the wrong choice yet.

“As of now, it doesn’t look like I made the best decision,” Houshmandzadeh said. “But you can’t say it’s a bad decision. It’s been one year. I feel like I have many more years I’ll be playing. I feel good.”

Housh is not doing Seattle any favors with his choice of words? Also getting his comeuppance from Cincy - as that team is also doing well.

No need for him to make these comments.

 

[thecardiackid]

I'd bet Sidney Rice likes his decision...

 

[harryhood]

I'd bet Sidney Rice likes his decision...

+1

 

[parrot]

Don't know much about the Vike's cap situation; if they had signed Housh would they have had the money to sign Favre if they had inked Housh to a big contract?

 

[Serafino]

I bet he regrets being the only person that actually thought Favre was retired more than anything else....

 

[SammyJankis]

What a tool.

“You knew Minnesota had a good team. It came down to, it felt like the quarterback situation was better here,”

Except that he told the Star Tribune

I'm looking at teams I think have good coaches and good offensive lines and good running games. I have no idea if those teams are interested in me. If I can play with Adrian Peterson, can you imagine what I would do getting one-on-one coverage with Adrian Peterson? I am going to win 98.6 percent of the time with one-on-one coverage with him in the backfield.

He wanted to play with a good QB. Oh, and a team with a good RB, and a good O-line, and of course good coaches. You know, a team that's uh, good.Except that another Star Tribune article mentions that:

The Cincinnati Enquirer reported the Bengals are offering a deal that exceeds the five-year, $35 million contract ($11 million guaranteed) the Giants gave wide receiver Plaxico Burress last September and the five-year, $33 million extension Pittsburgh gave Hines Ward. The Seahawks and Vikings are thought to be both offering three-year contracts, with Seattle coming in about $2 million higher than the Vikings.

He chose the money. Period. And hey, that in-and-of-itself is fine. He's an old WR that's taking a look at his last payday. On choosing the money, heck, more power to him.But come on TJ, you've got a pretty casual relationship with the truth here. "I want to play with a good RB, blah, blah, blah." Yeah, then he signs with Seattle. If only Minnesota had a better QB situation (and upped their offer by a couple million bucks) he'd be in purple! Whatever.

As a Cards fan, its fun to watch the former division champ trot out this jag and Nate "I guarantee a victory over a Cardinals, and I will back that up with zero catches" Burleson.

 

[greggorymac]

Housh is a possession receiver that benefited from the WR1 on his team drawing the safety to his side leaving TJ in one-on-one situations. He should be giving a portion of his Seattle contract to Chad, because without him he wouldn't have had his stats in CIN and the subsequent payday in free agency.

 

[Rushmore]

Don't really miss him in Cincy. And there have been a few insinuations of him being a bit of a distraction in the lockeroom while w/ the Bengals. Apparently he shared the same views about practice as Allen Iverson.

 

[Sweet Love]

I have to admit that I was pretty surprised by The Bengals' decision to let Housh go and keep Chad (instead of trading him). If he thinks his role is insignificant in Seattle, he would have had a real wakeup call in Minny. With that said, there are a lot of homers here mentioning how better off the team is w/o Housh, and while I spend waaay too much time on this board, why is this the first time I am hearing about this (Housh being a cancer)?? Is this "Monday Morning QB syndrome", or were you all keeping this a big secret?

 

[Ice Cream Man]

Housh is a possession receiver that benefited from the WR1 on his team drawing the safety to his side leaving TJ in one-on-one situations. He should be giving a portion of his Seattle contract to Chad, because without him he wouldn't have had his stats in CIN and the subsequent payday in free agency.

Most people on this board never appreciated that fact. I can't remember how many TJ>Ocho threads there were the last few seasons.

 

[FavreCo]

He did what he had to do. Favre wasn't the QB and when he looks at his options: Hasslebeck or career killer, T-Joke, he had no choice at the time but to sign with Seattle.

 

[Sammy Traveller]

He did what he had to do. Favre wasn't the QB and when he looks at his options: Hasslebeck or career killer, T-Joke, he had no choice at the time but to sign with Seattle.

it's business. you make your decision you believed to be the best one at that time, and move on.Housh doesn't seem to appreciate this basic business philosophy.